• The Government of India provides financial and technical assistance to the State/UT Governments for activities aimed at wildlife conservation through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme viz. ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’.

The scheme has following three components:

1. Support to Protected Areas (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves)
2. Protection of Wildlife outside Protected Areas and mitigation of Human Wildlife conflict.
3. Recovery programmes for saving critically endangered species and     habitats.

Scope

• Under IDWH, the financial assistance is provided to State/UT Governments for protection and conservation of wildlife and its habitats in Protected Areas (PAs) as well as outside PAs and also for the recovery programmes of the critically endangered species.
• The implementation of the schemes would be done through the respective States in designated Tiger Reserves, Protected Areas and Elephant Reserves.
• Presently, 21 critically endangered species have been identified under this programme.

• Assam’s traditionally woven “Gamosa” with its distinctive red border and floral motifs, and a semi-glutinous winter rice variety “Chokuwa” have earned the coveted geographical indications (GI) recognition as proof of their unique geographical origins, thereby getting legal protection to prevent their unauthorized use.

• The Muga silk was the state’s first product to get the tag in 2007.
• In 2015, the pungent Karbi Anglong ginger and the juicy Tezpur litchi got the recognition.
• The GI Registry journal described the Gamosa as a handloom product, which is one of the unique identities of Assamese society.
• Gamosa is a traditional textile of Assam. It bears great significance for the people of Assam.
• Gamosa is one of the unique identities of Assamese society. It is a symbol of Assamese culture.
• This is a handloom product which has high esteem and wide usage in Assamese culture.
• In earlier times, Gamosa was also known as “Phali”.
• Furthermore, as it was used to wipe face that is why it was also known as “Mukhosa”.
• The Chokuwa rice of Assam has been described as a “unique gift of nature”.
• This class of rice is not known in any other parts of the world.
• Chokuwa rice is a special class of semi glutinous winter rice (Sali rice in vernacular) of Assam which is in cultivation from time immemorial.
• This group of rice is characterized by low amylase content (12-17%) of the grains.
• Chokuwa rice varieties are tall, photo-sensitive and long duration varieties with low yield potential.
• However, this class of semi-glutinous rice differs from other Sali rice varieties in its plant and grain characteristics.
• Recently, the multipurpose Assamese gamosa, a ubiquitous, white cotton towel, has also been assigned a new function — conservation of rare freshwater turtles.
• Few cultural symbols are as utilitarian as the white handmade cotton gamosa, with its characteristic red border of woven motifs.
• It is valued as a gift for visitors, used as a scarf, anti-dust mask, wrapped around the head as a turban.
• Conservationists are now banking on this cultural icon to carry forward the message of turtle conservation, with gamosas woven with turtle images.

• IRDAI panel has recently suggested the Named Driver Policy and use of telematics in insurance sector.
• A Named Driver Policy is a type of insurance policy that, in short, provides coverage for only the drivers listed on the policy.
• (i.e) If you have a named driver insurance policy, the only drivers covered the event of a crash are those specifically listed on the policy.
• If you allow your friend — unlisted on the named driver policy — borrow your vehicle and they get into an accident, you would have no coverage.
• Use of telematics or tracking devices will monitor the driving habits such as acceleration, and braking and will provide feedback to the driver.
• Auto owners only pay the premium aligned to their driving profile and thus avoid paying for coverage based on one-size-fits-all system.
• Telematics will eventually pave the way for a ‘Pay As You Drive’ and ‘Pay How You Drive’ model.

• The aim of Sabka Vishwas (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme, 2019 is to help taxpayers, including small taxpayers, in clearing the baggage of disputes under legacy taxes (Service Tax and Central Excise), which are subsumed in Goods and Service Tax. 
• It was launched by the Ministry of Finance.
• The main components of the Scheme are dispute resolution and amnesty. 
• The dispute resolution component is aimed at liquidating the legacy cases of Central Excise and Service Tax that are subsumed in GST and are pending in litigation at various forums.
• The amnesty component of the Scheme offers an opportunity to the taxpayers to pay the outstanding tax and be free of any other consequence under the law.
• The most attractive aspect of the Scheme is that it provides substantial relief in the tax dues for all categories of cases as well as full waiver of interest, fine and penalty.
• In all these cases, there would be no other liability of interest, fine or penalty. There is also a complete amnesty from prosecution.

• Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana is a welfare measure being implemented by the Employee's State Insurance (ESI) Corporation, Ministry of Labour.
• It offers cash compensation to insured persons when they are rendered unemployed.
• It will be applicable for employees covered under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Act, 1948.

Employee’s State Insurance (ESI) Corporation

• It is self-financing social security and health insurance scheme for Indian workers.
• It is autonomous corporation by statutory creation under Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India.
• It is managed by Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) according to rules and regulations stipulated there in the ESI Act 1948.

• Recently, Ministry of  Culture told in Lok Sabha that a total 651 Hindu temples in India are designated as Centrally Protected Monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• Archaeological and historical pursuits in India started with the efforts of Sir William Jones, who put together a group of antiquarians to form the Asiatic Society in 1784 in Calcuta.
• ASI is the successor of The Asiatic Society of India. It was established in 1861.
• It functions as an attached office of the Department of Culture.
• The major activities of the Archaeological Survey of India are:

1. Survey of archaeological remains and excavations
2. Maintenance and conservation of centrally protected monuments sites and remains
3. Chemical preservation of monuments and antiquarian remains
4. Architectural survey of monuments
5. Development of epigraphical research and numismatic studies
6. Setting up and re-organisation of site museums
7. Expedition abroad
8. Training in Archaeology
9. Publication of technical report and research works.

• The ASI has taken up the conservation project of Ta Prohm, Cambodia under the ITEC programme of Ministry of External Affairs.

• Recently, the central government extended the ban on the insurgent group National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) by 5 more years for its involvement in a series of violent activities including killings and extortion, and for joining hands with anti-India forces. 
• National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), an organisation that is known to be involved in attacks, killings, and extortions.
• Bodos are the single largest tribal community in Assam, making up over 5-6 per cent of the state’s population.
• The four districts in Assam, Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang, that constitute the Bodo Territorial Area District (BTAD), are home to several ethnic groups.
• They are recognized as a plains tribe in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• The Bodos felt increasingly alienated with the unwillingness of both the central and state governments in resolving the issue. This in turn intensified the Bodo movement.
• No longer did they demand a union territory Instead, the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) started agitating for the creation of the Bodoland state.

• Government of Manipur, Spearheaded by Tourism Department, celebrates the Manipur Sangai Festival.
• Celebrated each year from 21st to 30th of November, this is one of the most popular festivals of India.
• Theme - To project & showcase the tourism potential and promote “DESTINATION MANIPUR”.
• The Festival strives to showcase and promote the best of what the state has to offer to the world in terms of art and culture, handloom, handicrafts & fine arts, indigenous sports, cuisines & music, eco & adventure sports as well as the scenic natural beauty of the land.
• Moreover, the Festival has assumed great significance in recent years as it celebrates ethnic diversity of Manipur Society.
• Participation of various Indian States, foreign traders and cultural troupes in the Festival makes it grander in scale and style.

• Recently, Defence Minister informed that efforts would be made to make the Rohtang Tunnel operational by May 2020.
• The Rohtang Tunnel, when complete, will cut through the mighty Pir Panjal range located in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
• It will provide a winter link to residents of Lahaul and Spiti village of Himachal Pradesh.
• It will reduce the distance between Manali and tribal district Lahual-Spiti's administrative centre Keylong by around 45 kilometres.
• Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have been working on the project.

• The X-59 QueSST, (short for Quiet SuperSonic Technology), a new supersonic demonstration piloted aircraft to enable the next generation of commercial supersonic aircraft.
• US-based aerospace firm Lockheed Martin Skunk Works has partnered with NASA to enable the next generation of commercial supersonic aircraft.
• It is being developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works for NASA.
• It has a 4k display instead of a front-facing window.